Northwestern vs. USC vs. UCLA vs. Notre Dame

USC, Notre Dame, Northwestern, or UCLA? WL at berkeley and vanderbilt as well. Want to possibly transfer to Harvard, Penn, Yale, or Dartmouth but I understand that those chances are very slim. My major is either economics, finance, or business administration. I want to get an MBA from Harvard, Northwestern, Penn, or Stanford. I want to possibly become a hedge fund manager or CEO later in my career. What do you guys think?

I think Northwestern is probably the best in my opinion for what you want to do. Next comes Notre Dame, then USC, and then UCLA (only because they do not have a business school). All of the colleges are excellent. Good Luck

Did you get into the business school at #1 ND? USC?

I wouldn’t expect to transfer to Harvard, they take only 12 or so a year, long odds, especially if you don’t have an academic interest you need to go there for. Same with the others.

NU is just a prestigious as some of your targets, why not got and stay there, their students do very well in business.

You many want to check out Kellogg certificates and MMSS at Northwestern. They provide strong foundation for anything quantitative, including hedge fund management.

I got into both business schools. However, at USC I am currently enrolled in Econ which I’ve heard is better than Business Administration. I also have the presidential scholarship at USC and my dad has great connections to proffessors there as well as internships in LA, not so much in Chicago or South Bend. @BrownParent

And Kellogg is the graduate school though so i’m not sure what you are getting at @ChaChaanTeng

The Kellogg certificate program is for undergrads. It’s a bit like a minor.

There are two certificate programs for undergrads at Kellogg. You’d choose one of them (though some may be able to do both if space is available) and take graduate level courses that are more focused and advanced than typical undergrad business programs. Northwestern just doesn’t believe in the value of undergrad business degree programs.

You’d still have a primary major in liberal arts or engineering. You’d take a series of pre-requisite courses during freshmen and sophomore years.

http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/

If you want to go for an MBA at Stanford or Harvard, do NOT major in business. Economics (with sufficient quantitative classes) would be fine for jobs and for MBAs. Both USC and Northwestern have “business/management” certificates that can be quite interesting.
Northwestern or USC are probably your best choices.

Also, Northwestern has the Russell Fellows Kellogg MSMS that is only open to NU undergrads.

With the Kellogg certificates, Business Institutions minor, and Entrepreneurship certificate, and Integrated Marketing certificate, NU actually provides most of a b-school curriculum.

Furthermore, of the schools you listed, NU is the only Wall Street target (ND and USC are more semi-targets).

Finally, agree with @BrownParent‌ that NU would provide just as much opportunity as those Ivies you’re thinking of transferring to. After that, it’s up to you.

Go for Northwestern or USC.